Video quotes: East and West Michigan both must focus on cities and work force

Michigan's cities are critical factors in the state's economic future, yet they face daunting challenges in attracting and retaining the educated, talented workers they will need to thrive.

The importance of healthy cities, and how they could put the state on a better economic path, was one focus of Ann Arbor Business Review's March 12, 2008, Michigan Leaders Speak event in Ann Arbor, "West Side Story."

Three economic analysts discussed western Michigan's success in driving economic change and how Ann Arbor, in particular, can benefit.

Panelists were George Erickcek, senior regional analyst for the W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research in Kalamazoo; Lou Glazer, president of Michigan Future Inc. in Ann Arbor; and Phillip D. Torrence, principal of Miller Canfield and a venture capital specialist, also based in Kalamazoo.

View some of their comments below. You also can view a video of the entire event here.

George Erickcek:
Grand Rapids boasts a viable downtown, thanks to local investment that has made it a pleasant place to work and live. But the Grand Rapids metro area, despite its current strength in manufacturing and service-sector employment, faces a talent deficit that threatens to impede future growth. In the highly mobile 25-34 age demographic, only 25 percent of Grand Rapids residents hold bachelors' degrees or higher, compared to 58 percent in Ann Arbor.

Lou Glazer: Per capita income prosperity is an important indicator. How West Michigan, Metro Detroit and the state stack up vs. the nation. What might happen to West Michigan, going forward.

George Erickcek: East and West Michigan employment growth doesn't compare well with rest of nation. Need to look at how to achieve vs. rest of nation.

George Erickcek: Grand Rapids has been gaining in manufacturing and services employment growth, yet lagging other metro areas nationwide. The mix causes the "strange math."